Cannot find Operating System

Hello, I hope someone can help me with a problem Vaio PCG-4F6P. This was running OK on WinXP, but then suddenly failed to boot. BIOS message says 'Can't find operating system'. The BIOS itself is password protected and yes, you guessed, I don't know the password.

Can anyone help me with this? I'll reinstall the OS if necessary, but it won't boot from the CD drive.

Many thanks for any help, I'm baffled.

Cheers, JaX

 

Well, you can't crack the BIOS password without contacting the manufacturer and getting them to do it. That's for security purposes, though I do not think it will help your present situation anyway.

The last time I saw that error was because the hard drive had finally failed in a friends notebook. I'd start with trying to confirm that the hard drive is working.

Why won't it boot from the CD drive? Did you put a bootable CD in it?

 

@night_2004
Thanks for answering. I assumed a bootable CD wouldn't boot because the BIOS isn't set right. I know nothing about notebooks/laptops, so I guess I'm wrong on this. Anyway, I took a closer look as it tries to boot and noticed the following messages after switching it on:

Intel Boot Agent FE v4.1.15
PXE-E61 Media test failure, check cable
PXE-M0F Exiting Intel Boot Agent.
Operating Syatem not found.

I guess that does point to the hard drive eh?
If so, how do I get inside to check the cable?
I've removed all the visible screws under the case and the frame around the keyboard unclips, but seems to be fixed near the centre of keyboard.

Any help welcome.
JaX

 

yes its hard drive failure most likely

you can try to take it out and freeze it for one last back up

 

@stamar
Thanks for replying. Any idea how this model is dismantled? I can't get the frame off to lift the keyboard.
Chers, JaX

 

There's almost always a door on the bottom or side that you can remove. You shouldn't have to disassemble the whole machine. How did you get a password in the BIOS that you don't know? That usually doesn't happen unless it's not your machine.

 

@Pitabred
It's my nephew's. He spent two months living it up in Thailand and came back with it. Your guess is as good as mine!

[EDIT: There doesn't appear to be any door to access the HD. I can just about remove the keyboard panel, but it's held down around the area of the spacebar or under the RAM module underneath. Problem is, the RAM module I can see seems to be fitted from inside the case. There's an empty RAM slot accessible from the trapdoor where the said RAM module is visible. Could there be a screw under the spacebar? Any ideas on this?]

Cheers, JaX

 

Here's a couple of images that may suggest how to proceed with removing the keyboard to access the HD (hopefully).



and the half-removed keyboard...



Hope this means something.
Cheers, JaX

 

That was the same exact error I had on an old machine whose HDD failed as well. Like the others have been saying though: the HDD should be easily accessible but we could be wrong. Is there anyway that you could post some small pics of the bottom and sides of your notebook? We might recognize the door for the HDD...

However, be warned: there is no HDD cable like there is in desktops. Usually the motherboard has the HDD connector, and the HDD is mounted in such a way that it fits directly upto the mobo connector.

 

@all
OK I think I've sussed it. The keyboard is an insert in the frame you see opened up in the second photo above. It 'snaps' into the frame and is held by one of the screws from underneath the chassis. It has two ribbon cables going down into the body. Removing keyboard reveals another screw into the chassis at the point noted by the arrow in the photo. Below the frame is another leaf covering the hard drive. I've got sight of it, but haven't removed it so far. There are no hatches or hidden slots to access the drive from outside. Assuming nephew wishes to proceed, I'll get another drive and continue further.
Many thanks for everyone's help and I'll come back if there's a hitch.
Cheers, JaX

 

@all
OK I think I've sussed it. The keyboard is a separate insert in the frame you see opened up in the photo above. This has lugs formed in the aluminium backing, which locate in slots at the bottom edge of the frame opening. The top edge snaps under small plastic clips. A screw from underneath holds it in place. With the keyboard/ribbon cables out, a screw holding down the frame is revealed where the arrow indicates. With the frame lifted, I can see the Hard drive below another leaf, but I haven't gone further in as yet. If nephew wishes to go ahead, I'll get another drive and continue dismantling. There is definitely no access to the drive directly from outside.
Many thanks for everyone's help. If I find further snags I'll report back later.
Cheers, JaX

 

Removed drive yesterday. Wrapped it in foil, sealed in zip bag and gave it 10 hours in deep freeze. Reinstalled it as quickly as possible and tried to boot it. Drive light on and sounds of activity from within but no joy. Still get same message, so I guess the drive is kaput. It's a 1.8" Toshiba 60GB so pretty expensive to fix the Vaio, eh?

But before I start spending someone else's money, will it automatically boot from the CD if the HD is fixed?

Cheers, JaX

 

I am trying to remove the keyboard from my PCG-4F6P but I cant seem to get the keyboard out so I can remove the hard-drive.

Can any1 point in the right direction .. many thanks